Device for carefully detaching and removing a press-molded part from a die

Abstract

A device is provided for detaching a finish-molded workpiece, made of a thermoset, from a compression molding tool and for removing the workpiece from the molding press. In order to be able to carefully detach and remove compression molded parts of any desired shape from the compression molding tool, the removing gripper, which is preferably manipulated by an industrial robot, is designed according to the invention as a dimensionally stable suction bell which is adapted to the workpiece, covers the entire workpiece in a true-to-shape manner up to the workpiece edge and, with a contact-side soft-material seating, can be brought to bear in a sealing manner against the workpiece. Pockets which are sealed off from one another and each of which can be subjected individually to a vacuum are incorporated in the soft-material seating. Each of the separate vacuum connections mutually free of reaction is provided with a monitoring device which emits a signal in the event of a drop in vacuum below a threshold value. A plurality of plungers which can be set down on opposing surfaces on the lower die are attached to the edge of the suction bell. The removing gripper can be pushed off the lower die by the plungers.

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . A device for detaching a finish-molded plastic workpiece from a lower impression of a compression molding tool, which is split into a lower die with a lower impression and an upper die with an upper impression and which can be opened and closed by a molding press, and for removing the workpiece from the molding press, during production of molded parts of reactive raw compounds of a thermoset, comprising a removing gripper which can be manipulated in a plurality of axes, wherein the removing gripper, which is also intended for detaching the workpiece from the lower impression of the lower die, is designed as a dimensionally stable suction bell adapted to the workpiece, covers the workpiece entirely in a true-to-shape manner on a workpiece surface, exposed in the lower die, up to the workpiece edge accessible in the lower die and, with a soft-material seating on the contact side of the suction bell, can be brought to bear in a sealing manner against the workpiece at least along the entire workpiece edge, and wherein it is possible for vacuum to be applied to a gap-like intermediate space enclosed between the suction bell and the workpiece.  
   
   
       11 . The device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the soft-material seating covers the workpiece entirely at least along certain sealing lines and follows a course of the workpiece surface, exposed in the lower die, in a true-to-shape manner, it being possible for the sealing lines to be brought to bear against the workpiece surface in a sealing manner, and wherein pockets which are sealed off from one another and to which vacuum can be applied are exposed between the sealing lines.  
   
   
       12 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each of the pockets which are sealed off from one another is provided on the inside on the suction bell and is provided with a respective separate vacuum connection.  
   
   
       13 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a respective safety valve is arranged in each respective separate vacuum connection, which safety valve, upon any collapse of the vacuum in one of the pockets, closes the vacuum connection concerned in such a way that no more than only very little ambient air can penetrate into the other pockets from the pocket affected by leakage.  
   
   
       14 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a vacuum feed to each individual pocket is provided with a monitoring device which emits a signal if the level of the respective vacuum drops below a pre-adjustable threshold value.  
   
   
       15 . The device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a plurality of plungers which lie outside the region of the lower impression, which can be set down on opposing surfaces on the lower die, and which can be moved back and forth in the lifting direction in a servomotor-operated manner, are attached to the edge of the removing gripper, and wherein the removing gripper can be pushed off the lower die by the plungers.  
   
   
       16 . The device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the plungers are provided with a displacement sensor by which a stroke covered by the plunger can be detected.  
   
   
       17 . The device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the removing gripper is attached to a wrist joint of a six-axis industrial robot.  
   
   
       18 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein sealing profiles used for forming the sealing lines are made of a material which is temperature-resistant at least up to about 140° C.